Photo: REGIERUNGonline/Plambeck
The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement which sets targets for cutting the amounts of greenhouse gases that the signed up countries release into the atmosphere. The current targets end in 2012.
When the G8 talked about a replacement agreement this is what they said:
• The IPCC reports are noteworthy and should influence decisions.
• “Global greenhouse emissions must stop rising, followed by substantial global emissions reductions.”
• A global goal is needed for emission reduction. They will consider decisions made by the EU, Canada and Japan which include at least halving global emissions by 2050.
• The UN is the basis for future agreements, a new agreement must start to be developed this year and completed in 2009.
Rather than simply reacting to the stronger and more frequent natural disasters that climate change causes, Tearfund believes that the best way to meet the needs of the poorest communities in the world is by helping them to adapt and change their way of lives to meet the challenges of climate change. This requires the developed world, who are predominantly responsible for the changes in the climate to be willing to share new technologies and techniques to help adaptation to happen.
The G8 this year stated the following:
• Developing nations and regions are most vulnerable to climate change and the G8 are committed to improving resilience to climate changeability and change.
• Climate change increases the risk to continued development in Africa and the G8 reaffirm their commitment to help Africa strengthen its ability to adapt.
Click here to read Tearfund’s response to this.